From the Navy Times comes the story a Navy Corpsman, Jake Emmott, who despite withering gun fire continued to treat “his” Marines, until he was knocked unconscious by a gunshot wound to the head. When he regained consciousness, Emmott refused treatment and continued to treat the wounded Marines and staggered to the helicopter on his own two legs;
A year later, Emmott, now an HM2, was presented with the Silver Star. Emmott was honored, along with fellow service members and caregivers, at the annual Navy Safe Harbor awards ceremony July 14 outside Washington. The Safe Harbor program provides nonmedical support for 688 wounded or ill sailors and Coast Guardsmen.
The award caps a remarkable turnaround for the 22-year-old from Wakefield, R.I. After a year of surgeries and rehab, Emmott is on track to recover.
The injuries were severe. The bullet pierced Emmott’s sinus cavity and exited behind his left ear, narrowly missing the vital carotid artery. Surgeons removed a third of his skull to relieve pressure on his swelling brain.
Sgt. Alan McAlister, then Emmott’s squad leader, saw him get shot.
“Initially, it was like, ‘OK, he’s dead,’ ” McAlister recalled thinking. “Focus on the firefight, getting everybody out of here. When he came back to life, it’s like, ‘Oh, here we go. This just got interesting.’ ”
Emmott plans on returning to his unit and to his job as a corpsman.
Doc, B Z – Way to focus on taking care of ‘your’ Marines.
(When he came back to life, it’s like … )”‘Oh, here we go. This just got interesting.’” … Yeah I reckon. That is the quote of the year. Well Done Doc!!!
#2 Agreed!
I can guarantee you that Doc Emmott has not paid for a beer since returning to Camp Lejeune.
God Bless you, shipmate! You make all us sailors proud.
Have always loved the Devildocs. Some of the toughest guys in the Marine Corps.
I wish that every single phony-ass sumbitch who claims to be high-speed, low-drag, balls-out heroes could just line up so guys like Petty Officer Emmott could get some therapeutic ball-kicking in to those worthless meatbags.
Semper-fucking-Fi, Doc!!
Oorah!
I’d like to share with you my recent communication with the Marine Corps Museum. First, I have visited the Museum several times over the last few years and always come away with a feeling of sadness because Corpsman, I feel along with a few of my Marine buddies, are under represented there. My last visit I left a “Comment Carsd” with this feeling. This is the Museums response via an email and then my response.
—– Original Message —-
From: Sullivan CIV Robert J
To: ronbobele@yahoo.com
Sent: Mon, June 27, 2011 10:43:28 AM
Subject: YOUR COMMENT CARD
Dear Mr Bobele,
I’m sorry your recent trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps was
not as exciting as it should have been. We do in fact recognize US Navy
Hospital Corpsmen in our museum. Here are but a few examples:
-World War I Gallery: the film in the immersive exhibit shows Marines
crossing the wheat field into German machine gun positions. In one dramatic
scene, the Marine Lieutenant is hit by shrapnel from an exploding shell, the
Gunnery Sgt yells for the Corpsman, and the Corpsman runs to the fallen
Lieutenant.
-World War II Gallery: at the entrance to the gallery in the large glass
exhibit case are two static cast figures, a wounded Marine on a stretcher and a
Corpsman administering first aid to him. In the Iwo Jima exhibit, the USN
insignias on the panel near the Iwo flag represent Navy losses to include
Corpsmen. Lastly, Doc Bradley is included in the photo of the 2d flag raising.
-Korean War Gallery: the immersive exhibit shows Capt Barber’s grunt company
holding their position against heavy Chinese attackers near the Frozen Chosin, a
cast figure of Capt Barber is shown, wounded in the thigh being treated by
another cast figure of a Corpsman.
-Vietnam Gallery: two areas, in the film of the Operation Box Score
(located in the hut behind the dog), “Doc” Steve Thompson is featured in film
(received Silver Star) and in an exhibit on Navy-Marine Team, images of Corpsmen
are included.
-Legacy Walk (timeline) Gallery: included in the Medal of Honor kiosk are
those USN Hospital Corpsmen who while serving with Marines received the Medal of
Honor. The kiosk includes the photo, award citation and bio of the awardee.
I’m sure if I searched the 1600 images in the museum’s galleries, I could
locate additional images of Corpsmen doing their duty with great heroism.
Please visit us again and look for the above instances where the museum
recognizes their “Docs” performing in every clime and place.
Sincerely,
Bob Sullivan
Head, Curatorial Services
This is my response:
Dear Mr. Sullivan;
I am compelled to answer your recent response to my comment card. I live in
Orlando and on a recent trip to D.C. I took my family to see the Iwo Jima
memorial near Arlington National Cemetery. While there, I discussed the statue
with a small group next to us, as I was explaining things to my son. Part of the
discussion was I trying to clarify that there was 1 Navy Corpsman (an integral
part of the Marine Corps) in the group of 6 men raising the flag. One person
said “it is ridiculous to state that a Sailor is in the Marine Corps statue.” I
tried to explain but it was to no avail. My wife finally pulled me away saying
that maybe they would “Google” my details. This upset me.
A Marine rifle platoon usually consists of 13 men and 2 Corpsmen. In Vietnam, I
do not remember our platoon ever having a full complement of Marines.
1 of 6 or 2 of 15 men, we are an integral part of the Marine Corps.
Can you honestly say that Corpsmen are given equivalent merit at the Museum? I
do not think so! Ask Combat Corporals what they think of their Corpsmen.
I request that you spend a few moments reading the Corpsmen page at Vietnam 2/1
Regimental website:
http://libertyyes.homestead.com/Corpsman.html
So that you better know me, see my page at:
http://libertyyes.homestead.com/Corpsman4.html
During Vietnam, Corpsmen received more meritorious awards, including four Medals
of Honor plus the highest W.I.A and K.I.A’s than any other rating (M..O.S.) in
the entire Navy. Three guesses as to why.
I do not want to answer each one of your examples of Corpsmen currently at the
Museum except for one. Your statement “Lastly, Doc Bradley is included in the
photo of the 2d flag raising.” This makes my point. Show me where this is
explained (that Doc Bradley was a Corpsman) to the average person viewing this
display. The Flag that flew that day is a part of the TRUE symbol
of the Corps; however, it is given more prominence than the men who raised it …
and one was a Navy Corpsman!
“You guys are the Marine’s doctors; There’s no better in the business than a
Navy Corpsman….”
Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, U.S.M.C
I’m curious to hear your feeling about this subject.
Semper Fi
Ron Bobele Doc Bo
Echo 2/1, 1969
1st Med Batt, 1970
Orlando, Fl